On the 44th episode of the Ripple Effect Martial Arts podcast, 2nd-degree Black Belt Mr Ada Yasar talks about how martial arts has impacted his life at home, at school and in life at large. He's just 16 years old, but has accomplishments and ambitions well beyond his years. These include music, math and AI programming, as well as travel and full-time Black Belt instruction in his future college career. Thank you Mr Yasar for exploring the potential of the Black Belt journey!

Black Belt instructor Lionel Lariviere (or Mr L, as he's better known) has been studying and teaching martial arts for "like, a hundred years" [his words]. His experience translates to the training of hundreds of Black Belt students over the course of more than two decades, with more Black Belt generations to come. He's fascinated by everything from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to the etymology of last names, and here he shares his passion for his own Black Belt journey, student growth and more.

Karate. Community. Pyrotechnics. Master Devin Arkfeld was our first podcast guest back in 2021, and he’s been very busy since. He shares his thoughts on being a martial artist, an Eagle Scout, a teacher, and a national and international tournament champion. For Master Arkfeld, martial arts and all its rewards and challenges is a long-term investment in yourself, your students and your community. Hear about his black belt journey; we hope it inspires your own.

Second-degree black belt Mr. Caleb White has been training at Ripple Effect Martial Arts since he was five years old. He has always had a hunger to learn and teach, and just finished instructing a white belt series for adults with traumatic brain injury. His father is one of his students, and Caleb and his grandmother Sandy talk about the impact martial arts has had on their relationship, Caleb’s growth as an individual and member of his community, and the prospects for his future. Listen in for a very inspiring story of family connection and black belt leadership.

Ever wondered what inspires a person to become a black belt? What it takes to open a karate school? The origins of the sparring nickname “Mad Dog Macy?” This is just the tip of the iceberg of our talk with Mr and Mrs Master Macy, the founders of Ripple Effect Martial Arts’s schools in Colorado and Florida. Listen in to find out the personal history of the black belt culture and mission of Ripple Effect!

Master Jan Lappin has studied martial arts for more than 40 years, beginning with Judo in college and since earning a 5th-degree black belt in the Korean art of Tang Soo Do. She has trained hundreds of black belts through Middleburg Martial Arts (now Ripple Effect Martial Arts), including her own daughters who continue to teach and train. On the latest podcast, Master Lappin discusses her philosophies of teaching, learning, leadership and setting goals at all stages of life. Listen in for her insights on what martial arts has brought to her life and her community.

Whether it’s public speaking or any performance in front of a large audience, many of us wonder how well we’d do. Both kids and adults are subject to attacks of the nerves when it comes to public performances, but we all can gain the confidence to step up to the stage and give it our best. This edition of the podcast features a short story about a karate student ready to head to her first tournament, as well as a talk with a teenage black belt whose first tournament experience came at the young age of six. Goal-setting is featured throughout. Enjoy and continue to set your sights on earning top place at the next martial arts tournament!

Grab some candy corn and gather up somewhere warm for the last podcast of 2023, a little tale from the north pole that involves a little-known secret about Santa's top elves... Hope everyone is looking forward to the new year! Best from all of us at Ripple Effect Martial Arts!

Mr Chris Green has spent his professional life in hospitality. He's run hotels, resorts, hotel companies and management firms, and the teams he's led have helped guests experience landmark events as well as seen families through natural disasters. Here Chris talks about learning how to lead from difficulty and challenge, and how a mindset of curiosity breeds strong leadership, in business, the martial arts, and life.

Joseph Wade was barely six (or seven?) when he asked his mom (Jennifer) to join karate. This request happened to coincide with the opening of the first Ripple Effect Martial Arts school in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2013. Now we're ten years on, and the entire family--Mom, Dad, Joseph and sisters Grace and Marilyn have risen to 2nd degree black belt, helping each other and hundreds of other black belt students along the way. Listen to their memories of hardship and leadership in this special ten-year anniversary podcast.